Ou Researchers Explore How Cannabis Use Affects Recovery After Head And Neck Cancer Surgery

University of Oklahoma researchers are conducting a first-of-its-kind study to find whether cannabis usage affects betterment from nan wounds associated pinch caput and cervix crab surgery. The outcomes whitethorn person implications for different types of room and conditions.

Lurdes Queimado, M.D., Ph.D., and Mark Mims, M.D., person been funded by nan Presbyterian Health Foundation successful Oklahoma City to lead nan research, which will see 220 big patients undergoing room for caput and cervix crab and reconstruction aft nan tumor removal. Many specified surgeries discuss some quality and physiological functions specified arsenic swallowing and breathing.

The investigation is unsocial successful that it is prospective – patients will beryllium followed for six months from nan clip of their curen – alternatively than retrospectively looking astatine diligent data. In addition, patients' self-reporting of cannabis usage will beryllium biochemically verified done humor tests, which adds spot to nan study.

Research has shown that location is simply a precocious complaint of cannabis usage among crab patients – much than 50% successful immoderate studies, and up to 80% among those who besides usage tobacco. But location is very small successful nan aesculapian lit astir really cannabis usage affects nan treatment of wounds. Importantly, location are nary prospective studies connected this topic. We judge nan information that we stitchery will beforehand our knowing of really nan divers modes of cannabis usage impact coiled treatment and found a model for related studies."

Lurdes Queimado, M.D., Ph.D., lead main interrogator and Professor of Otolaryngology

Queimado besides directs nan Tobacco Regulatory Science Lab astatine nan TSET Health Promotion Research Center, a programme of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center.

Based connected her preliminary research, Queimado hypothesizes that cannabis smoking negatively affects coiled healing. Her first studies, though limited, show that non-cancer patients who fume cannabis person much inflammation and a alteration successful immune strategy function, some of which could trim coiled treatment and summation complications.

However, location are galore factors to return into consideration, specified arsenic nan mode successful which patients devour cannabis and really often they usage it. Queimado's proceedings is designed pinch 4 groups of patients – those who usage cannabis, those who usage cannabis and tobacco, those who usage baccy only, and those who usage neither.

"We will show each group of patients for infections, bleeding, aesculapian complications and scar healing," she said, "and we will measure really they are utilizing cannabis, whether it's smoking, vaping aliases edibles, because they are very different successful nan effects they have. The eventual extremity is to person accusation to guideline nan patient."

Facial integrative and reconstructive surgeon Mark Mims, M.D., an adjunct professor of otolaryngology and surgery, said this study is some applicable and timely.

"Patients travel to my agency and inquire if utilizing cannabis will impact their reconstructive room outcome, and we conscionable don't person capable information to counsel them pinch confidence," Mims said.

While nan main intent of nan study is to understand nan effects of cannabis connected coiled treatment successful caput and cervix crab patients, Queimado and her squad will besides stitchery accusation astir patients' responses to immoderate curen successful summation to surgery, specified arsenic chemotherapy and radiation.

"I deliberation this study has nan imaginable to person awesome implications for different types of crab and surgeries, but besides for chronic diseases because inflammation and immunity play a important domiciled successful galore conditions, specified arsenic autoimmune diseases," Queimado said. "I deliberation location will beryllium galore opportunities for maturation into different areas erstwhile we person established nan model of this study."